Cotton ball machine



Jan. 19, 1965 R. H. PRATT ETAL COTTON BALL MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed March 2, 1959 INVENIORS zaaEer Pear-7- lar e-0 A anon/5Jan. 19, 1965 R. H. PRATT ETAL COTTON BALL MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed March 2, 1959 INVENTORJ Zoaeer H. Pznrr- Hamesa J. anon/gU MM! gifubtacll all,

ATTGENEY Jan. 19, 1965 R. H. PRATT ETAL COTTON BALL MACHINE 6Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed March 2, 1959 INVENTORS P0652714- Penrrflan/mesa .1 EHCKUS w Arm ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1965 R. H. PRATT ETAL COTTONBALL MACHINE Original Filed March 2,- 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS206E21- Pen 7' r 94 FEED J. BHcKuS ATTORNEY.

LM, Ma -M 2965 R. H. PRATT ETAL Jan. 19,

COTTON BALL MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed March 2, 1959INVENTORS 1%6527'11. pa rr ALFRED .J. EEC/K05 Jan. 19, 1965 R. H. PRATTETAL COTTON BALL MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed March 2, 1959 aWW m men v MP5 m 7 M g fiwxw WW M mm. m. YQMI\\ A United States Patent3,165,794 CGTIGN- BALL PJEACHHJE Rohert E. Pratt, For: Point, and Alfred.i. Backus, West Bend, Wis, assignors to Corp, Milwaukee,

Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Original application Mar. 2, i959, Ser.No. 796,4?5, now

Patent No. 3,065,505, dated Nov. 27, 1962. Divided and this applicationApr. as, 1962, Ser. No. 1903M 9 Claims. ((31. 19-1445) This applicationis divisional with respect to our application Serial No. 796,495 filedMarch 2, 1959, now US. Patent No. 3,065,505.

The invention relates to a cotton ball machine.

The product known as a cotton ball has heretofore been produced invarious ways and in various specific forms, but essentially the cottonball is a wad, roll or ball of cotton fibers or other fibers, preferablyabsorbent, useful in many ways and often utilized in surgery or forapplication of medicaments.

The so called cotton ball may be of any practicable size but the commonproduct is a fiufiy but more or less compact ball approximately an inchin diameter.

The machine of the instant invention is a simple device mechanically butprovides in its principal operating throat a succession of operatingprinciples which are conducive to extremely rapid production and tocompletion of the product through the use of few operating parts notonly adapted to receive and feed raw fiber in the simplest form ofsliver but to separate lengths of such a sliver into formable unitlengths best adapted for rapid.

formation into the roll or ball for delivery in a sweeping continuousoperation.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the cotton ball machine of this inventionand showing diagrammatically at the left a carding machine for deliveryof fiber in the form of a sliver; certain parts of the delivery portionof the cotton ball machine being shown at the right in vertical section.

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the delivery side of the machine and showingthe symmetrical duplicate delivery apparatus of the duplicate operativeportions of the machine.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the ball forming headsand is therefore an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper portion ofthe disclosure in FIG. 1; the position of the operating parts of themachine disclosing their operation immediately upon the rupture of thesliver to provide a unit length thereof for the formation of a ball.

FIG. 4 is a view fragmentarily of some of the parts shown in FIG. 3 butdisclosing the sliver as it initially advances into the unit formingportion of the apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail of those operating parts of the machine atthe station where the ball formation of the sliver unit has itsinception.

FIG. dis a view in perspective of a fragment of sliver as it appearsjust after the inception of the rolling operation for formation of aball.

FIG. 7 is a perspective of a complete roll or ball which is the productof the instant machine.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical section on line 8-8 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a section on line 9 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a view in section online 10-10 of FIG. 3 showing the relativepositions of the ball forming wheel and the final feed wheel.

FIG. 11 is a detailed view of a portion of the ball forming Wheel andthe partsprovid-ing the ball forming throat, such parts being shown insection on line 11-11 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 12 shows an alternative form of cotton ball form- 3,1553% PatentedJan. 19, 1955.

ing apparatus and the view is in general comparable to FIG. 3.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of the view shown in FIG.12this portion. showing apparatus for initiating the ball formingoperation.

FIG. 14 is a vertical section through that portionv of the cotton ballmachine which shows the power train of shafts, sprockets and otherdriving elements of the apparatus shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a section on line 15l5 of FIG. 14, certain parts beingeliminated so as to show clearly certain func tioning parts of thecotton ball'machine.

FIG. 16 is a section on line 1616 of FIG. 14 and including adiagrammatic showing of the electrical portion of the control apparatus,certain parts mounted in conjunction with the control apparatus on acontrol shaft being shown in elevation.

FIG. 17 is a section on line 17-17 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a section on line 1818 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 19 is a section on line li9l9 of FIG. 12.

It will be understood that in the description of the machine, the termball is intended in its broadest sense to include fibrous materialapproximatelyball shaped but including a roll formed by spirallysuccessive accumulation derived from a band or sliver of fibrousmaterial.

The raw material to be fed into the instant apparatus is fibrous andformed in a carding machine 25into a band or sliver 26 as showndiagrammatically in FIG. 1. The sliver is delivered from thecardingmachine by the rolls 2? and 23 one of which is power connected by chain29 to the cotton ball machine. It will be understood that sliver 26 maybe provided from any source and may be delivered I into the instantinventive machine from a carton or other container as will be understoodby those skilled in the art of handling slivers. The machine as shown inthe drawings is in reality a double machine in that the actual mechanismfor producing balls is duplicated on either side as shown in FIG. 2,therefore with the exception of the mechanism for delivery of thecompleted product, the

following description will be directed to the mechanism principalstructural operating member of the ball form ing part of the machine isa ball forming wheel 31 mounted upon shaft 32. It is provided with a rim33, the outer peripheral surface of which is pulley shaped and coatedwith a thickness of soft rubber-like material 34. As shown in thedrawings the'wheel 31 is 16" in diameter and the rubber-like coatingupon its periphery is made up of a band of this material approximately2" longer than the circumferential dimensions of the wheel so that asshown in FIG. 3 the band of rubber-like material is overlapped at 35 forreasons to be described below.

At the input portion of the machine relative to the wheel 31, there is apairof sliver feeding rolls 36 and'37 mounted on shafts 38 and 39respectively. Shaft 38 for roll 36 as shown in FIG. 9'is mounted infixed bearings 49 and this shaft 38 is positively driven by chain 41 onsprocket 42 as will be described below relative tothe driving mechanismof the entire machine. The other roll 37 of this pair of feed rolls ismounted in a bracket 46 so as to be swingable toward nd away'from roll36. Bracket 46 is pivoted upon shaft 49 extending across the machineframe. A spring at 50 tensioned between the bracket 46 and a cross brace51 biases theswingable feed roll 37 toward the feed roll 36, and it isbetween these rolls that a sliver 26 is fed toward the ball formingwheel 31 in a direction such that the sliver may be picked up betweenthe periphery of wheel 31 and sliver-severing feed roll 55. p I

The rim33 of the ball forming wheel 31 is quite close to the exteriorsurface of the box-shaped housing 39, and there is a path forming band66 spaced outwardly peripherally of the coating 34. This path formingband 60 is supported at spaced points by adjustable mounting screws 61as most clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 where it will be seen that theheads of the screws 61 are held under clips 62 secured to the outer faceof band 61). Then the screws extend radially outwardly through mountingdevices 63 secured to the housing 30. The screws are in threadedengagement with the devices 63 and lock nuts 64 may be used to securethe band 60 in the proper adjusted position.

It will be noted that band 6% is positioned radially closer to theperiphery of the wheel 31 adjacent feed roll 55 and that at each pointof attachment the adjustment of the band is such that it is held atincreasing distances from the wheel 31 until finally at the outlet shownat 65 in FIG. 3 the band is at its greatest degree of separation fromthe periphery of the wheel.

Then to complete the definition and enclosure of the path to be followedby the cotton or other fibrous material, there is an' outer shield 66which comprises a large portion of an annular collar preferably formedof trans parent plastic and having an inner skirt of sufiicient radialextent to provide closure for the path of product as will be readilyunderstood from an examination of-the drawmgs.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the power means for driving the apparatusthus far disclosed includes a motor (not shown) for the carding machinewhich drives the rolls 27 and 28. The chain 29 connected to the roll 23and its shaft extends .to 'a sprocket 70 on a shaft 71 extending acrossthe box frame 30 of the cotton ball machine. On this same shaft 71 is asprocket 72 connected to a sprocket 73 by means of chain 74. Sprocket 73is on the same shaft 75 with a larger gear 76 meshed with gear 77 onshaft 32. Then in one to one ratio, there are sprockets 73 and 79 with achain 80 for drive of a counter device 81 mounted adjacent the outputmechanism of the machine.

A sprocket 82 on shaft 83 of roll 55 and a sprocket 42 on shaft 38 areconnected by chain 41 with a sprocket on shaft 71 for drive of rolls 55and 36, and it will be noted that sprocket 82 is smaller than sprocket42 whereby to provide a more rapid rotation of the periphery of roll 55than is provided for the periphery of roll 36.

The principal parts of the ball forming apparatus having been describedabove, it will be observed as shown in the drawings that the sliver 26is passed to rolls 36-37 by any satisfactory path of travel, and asshown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the path is directed from the carding machineupwardly and arcuately over wheel 31 as governed by a curved strap 85mounted on clips 86 secured to the housing 30. When the feed of sliver26 is directed between power operated roll 36 and idler roll 37 which isspring biased toward roll 36, the sliver is directed toward the infeedfthroat 87 and in a general direction toward the path which is definedby the wheel 31 and path forming band 60. At a time when a singlethickness of rubber-like friction material 34 is opposite roll 55, thereis ample space for the sliver to freely move between the roll 55 andfriction material 34. The sliver contacts either the roll or thefriction material and some assistance is given to the forward travelinto and through the throat and into the path of travel to be followedin a ball forming operation. The length of a ball forming unit isprimarily determined by the peripheral speed of roll 36 which is poweroperated and a certain length of the sliver indicated clearly in FIG. 3will have traveled through the throat at the time when the overlapped orland portion of friction material 34 at 35 is brought into the bitebetween wheel 31 and roll 55. This added thickness of the overlappedportion is sufiicient to squeeze the sliver tightly against roll 55 andsince the peripheral speed of roll 55 is faster than the peripheralspeed of roll 36, there is an appreciable speeding up of one portion ofthe sliver while that portion at 38 between rolls 36 and 55 is subjectedto an attenuation resulting in a rupture of the sliver at 88. Of coursethe peripheral speed of the friction material 34 is the same as theperipheral speed of roll 55, but until the sliver has been squeezed bythe additional thickness of friction material 34 at 35, only a slightfrictional and indirect application of forward power to the sliver at 39has been partially effective and never sufliciently powerful in forwardpull upon the sliver to accomplish a rupture of the sliver.

The severed portion %9 of the sliver now progresses as a unit forwardlyin the direction of wheel rotation in the path between the wheel 31 andthe path forming band 60, and almost immediately the forward end of thissliver unit enters a relatively constricted zone at 9% because of theprovision of friction material 91 on the inside of the path forming band69 (see FIG. 3). There is just sufficient room at 96 for the sliver toenter but there is immediately established a resistance to the outsideportion of the sliver and a rolling action commences. As the rollingaction develops as illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in FIG. 6, agreater space is needed between the friction surface 34- and thefriction surface 91. This is accommodated by the increased dimension ofthe ball forming zone as the band 6i? is increasingly peripherallyspaced from wheel 31 and its surface 34. Of course the ball or rollprogresses along the outlet at 65 where it pops out tangentially of thewheel 31 and into a delivery trough or tube 92.

In the meantime, the forward end of the sliver at the point of ruptureat 88 has been fed forwardly between surface 34 and roll 55 and theoperation is repeated to form a ball or roll for each revolution ofwheel 31. Assuming a given speed of sliver feed through rolls 3637, theamount of fiber in the ball may be determined by the time intervalbetween passage of zones of overlap 35 respecting roll 55. The degree ofcompaction is controlled by adjustment of band 6%) and affects the sizeof the ball.

When a sliver rolls into ballform in its path of progress between thewheel surface 34 and the path forming band 60 with its friction material91 it assumes a form shown in FIG. 7 except that usually there are fuzzyportions of the fibrous sliver material which give the product a moreball shaped appearance. As the product pops into the outlet tube 92, itfalls by gravity into a bag or container 160 into which it is directedby a two-way delivery valve 101 at the dividing point in the Y-shapedportion 162 of outlet tube 92 (see FIG. 2).

The valve 161 is fixed on shaft 103 provided with a valve shifter leverarm 104 so disposed that a solenoid 105 and its armature 106 may, bymeans of shift link 10?, flip the valve from one position to anotheragainst the bias of spring 198.

Electrically, the solenoid 105 is under control of a circuitdiagrammatically shown in FIG. 2 at 110 and connected to counter 81.Each time the counter totals a certain number, for instance 500, thecircuit 110 is energized or deenergized by means of a switch not shown,and the valves 161 change position whereuponan operator removes a filledcontainer 1% and substitutes an empty one in readiness for the nextvalve movement.

As shown in FIG. 11 provision for adjustment of the band 60,particularly at the restricted zone 90, permits of careful determinationthat the rolling of the sliver is initiated. Also it will be noted thatthe shape of the parts at 65 facilitates the centrifugal throwing of theproduct into a delivery tube.

Experience has shown that a more versatile ball forming machineaccording to the above described basic ball forming principle isattainable through the provision of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 12 to19 inclusive. Here the sliver 26 is guided around a snub roller 115 andthen passed through infeed rolls 116 and 117. Roll 116 is power operatedand roll 117 is an idler roll biased to squeeze the sliver between therolls. The sliver is thus fed to the bite of two or more infeed rollswhich will be denominated as severance rolls 118 and 119. Roll 113 is apower operated continuously rotating roll and roll 119 is an idler rollspring biased toward roll 118.

A felt wiper 123 on blade 124 prevents accidental maldirection of thesliver to the right as seen in FIG. 12.

In this construction, wheel 1213 is provided with rubberlike frictionmaterial 121 on the periphery of its pulleylilze surface in much thesame way that wheel 31 is equipped in the PEG. 3 type of machine exceptthat the friction material 121 is of single thickness throughout theentire periphery of the wheel 121), and the wheel 120 may revolve at agreater peripheral speed without specilic reference to the number ofcotton balls which are produced in one revolution of the wheel 12%.

Through the use of the feed rolls 116, 117 and 118, 11 a severance orrupture of the sliver into ball forming unit length is accomplished aswill be described below.

The leading end of a unit length of sliver is projected upwardly by thefeed rolls 118, 119 so as to impinge against the friction material 121of wheel 1%. Therefore, naturally the unit length of the sliver will befed to the left as shown in FIG. 12 into a throat 125 defined by thematerial 121 on the wheel 121), by the side wall of the housing 36 andby an almost complete collar 126 comparable in ftnction to that shown in66 in FIG. 1. Here, too, a peripheral path forming band 127 is supportedupon adjustingscrews 128 mounted and performing the same function asscrews 61; however, the first contact of the leading end of the sliverunit with band 127 and its friction material 129 is not required toinitiate the rolling action for the formation of a ball. This initialrolling action is assured by reason of a pneumatic denector 131} shownmost clearly in FlG. 13 where it will be seen that a screened openingalong the lower portion of the path of travel of a sliver unit 131 isconnected to a vacuum pipe line 13-2 and when the advancing unit 131reaches 131?, there is a downward deflection of the leading end of theunit sufficient to assure the initiation of a rolling action which isalmost immediately picked unity the friction material 12? at 133 whichis the forward nose of the band 127 and its friction surface 129,specially adjustably positioned by set screw 1%. When the rollin actionhas been developed along the path of travel of the sliver unit, the ballis soon completely formed as the band 127 is radially increasinglyspaced from the periphery of the wheel 12% Usually, the ball issubstantially complete and the sliver unit has been completely woundinto ball form before the ball reaches the oclocl; position as seen inFIG; 12. From thereon to the outlet 135, the ball merely rolls for thepurpose of advancing it along the path for delivery and to shape andfrictionally treat the ball surface.

A delivery blade 136 is positioned to positively assure the delivery ofthe completed ball away from wheel 121i, but because of the rapidrotation of Wheel 1213 and the centrifugal forces involved, the ballusually travels along the path designated by the trailingend of band 127so that the ball is delivered into outlet tube 137.

The timing and power operation of this alternative ball formingapparatus is shown in FIGS. 14 to 18 inclusive, and, as indicated abovein reference to the FIG. 8 disclosure, the power for operation of theball forming apparatus is derived from the carding machine whichsupplies the slivers to the respective sides of the apparatus. In BEG.14 the shaft connected to the carding machine is shaft it will be notedthat shaft 141 for the wheel 121i is connected directly to shaft 149 bysprocket chain 1 3 and sprocket 144-. Also the shaft 141 is providedwith a sprocket 145, provided with .161? forming parts of a unitarymember 169.

6 a chain 146, connected tosprocket 147 on shaft 150. Thus the rotativepower from shaft is carried to a gear 141 on shaft 154) meshed with gear152 on shaft 153. This shaft 153 carries infeed rolls 118.

Gear 152 is meshed with a larger gear 15lwhich is an idler gear on shaft155. This shaft 155 is an important carrier of a clutch and brakeforming'part of the control devices determining the unit length ofsliver to be formed into a ball.

At each end of shaft 155 are the rolls 116 and since each of the powerdriven rolls 118 and 116 are respectively mated with their idler rolls119 and 117, attention is now directed to FIG. 15 where it will be seenthat shaft 155 is equipped with a set of bralre and clutch members nowto be described.

A fixed frame cross shaft 156 extends from one side of the housing 3% tothe other and carries a bracket 157. This in turn carries a spreadershaft 158 with which to anchor two oppositely facing mounting plates 159and These mounting plates are generally circular and are provided withindividualbearing members 161 and 162 respectively between the platesand the shaft 155. Plate 159 carries field coil 163 and pole ring 164with appropriate electrical connections for the coil as shown in FIG. 16and described below sothat when the coil 163 is energized, flux carrier165 keyedto shaft 155 pulls brake armature res into braking relation tothe flux carrier. This is possible because braking armature 166 issplined upon fixed idler hub 167 carried by a bracket 168 mounted infixed relation to frame cross shaft 156.

Flate 151B carries pole ring17tl which is provided with a coil 171. Whenthis coil is energized a clutch 'iiux ring 172 keyed to shaft 155 pullsclutch armature 1'73 into friction relationship with the flux ring 172.This provides a drive for shaft 155 because clutch armature 173 is insplined relation to the hub of gear 154.

From the above description, it will be seen that when coil 163 isenergized and coil 1'71 is deenergized, shaft 1% is almost immediatelystopped in its rotation by the braking action between flux ring 165 andarmature 16,6. Then wheujcoil 163 is deenergized and coil 171 isenergized shaft 155 is brought immediately up to its proper speed ofrotation by frictional engagement of flux ring 172 and clutch armature173.

Control of the coils 163 and 171 respectively is provided as shown inF168. 16 and 17. A timing shaft is provided with a commutator device 181having a dielectric sleeve 182 fixed on the shaft. Embedded in thedielectric material are two complete slip rings 183 and 18 1respectively electrically connected to coils 163 and 1'71 as showndiagrammatically in PEG. 16 where it will be seen that a brush 1S5rideson ring 183 and brush 186 rides on ring 184. Centrally of the sleeve 1&2is a segmental commutator ring shown more completely in FIG. 17. Onesegment 187 extends slightly less than 390 degrees and the other, 158,extends slightly less than 60 degrees for respective contact through abrush 1519 with one lead 191? of a two wire-supply of which the otheread is shown at 191 for common feed to the coils. The longer commutatorsegment 11}? is connected by a bus bar 192 with ring 184 for clutchenergization and the shorter segment 138 is connected by bus bar 193with ring 133 for brake energization. Therefore, in one revolution ofshaft 181 and this commutator 181 the shaft 155 and infeed rolls 116 arein operation during 300 degrees of shaft 181 rotation and are stoppedduring 60'degrees of shaft 189 rotation. This then determines the unitlength of sliver to be fed into the ball forming portion of the machinesince the rolls 116 will advance sliver '26 between them and the matedidlers 117 while they are operating but will stop longenough to rupturethe slivers as the other infeed rolls 118 are constantly rotating tofeed the sliver units forward to the wheel 120.

The length of a sliver unit is adjustable because the limits, as shownin FIG. 14.

.speed of rotation of shaft 130 relative to the other -One of thesepulleys, 196 on shaft 18%, is a Reeves drive pulley having one face ofthe pulley automatically adjustable so as to change the effectivediameter of the pulley according to the pressure of the belt thereon.At'197 is an idler pulley for the belt 195 whereby to change thepressure on pulley 196 for a change in speed of shaft 180. The shaft ofidler pulley 197 is carried by an adjusting arm 1% pivoted at B9 andadjustably swingable under control of adjusting apparatus at 2 30 aswill be readily understood.

Reference has been made to the fact that the mates for each of the poweroperated feed rolls 116 and 118 are idler rolls 117 and 119, but theyare resiliently pressed toward their mates so as to give substantiallypositive feed of sliver. As shown, in FIGS. l4, l5 and 18, each of theserolls is mounted on a shaft such as shaft 2M carried for free rotationin a bracket 262 swingable on a shaft 2&3 extending across the frame ofthe machine. Each bracket of the type shown at 202 in FIG. 18 carriesone of these idler rolls and a fixed arm 2% with compression spring 2%between the arm and bracket as shown in FIG. 14 presses the idler rolltoward its mate.

Reference has also been made to the pneumatic deflector 13% an enlargedview of which is shown in Fl 13. The reduced air pressure in pipe 132 isnot constantly reduced, but is reduced momentarily in timed relation tothe feed of sliver units. 011 the control shaft 180, at 205, is a camhaving one lobe 2% to bear against an actuator 267 for a valve 2&3. Thisis an off-on valve in air tube 209. Each time the valve opens inresponse to cam lobe 2%, compressed air in tube 269 is passed to aninjector unit 210, the outlet of which is directed against the clutchand brake assembly so as to cool it. The function of the injector 210 isto induce a reduced air pressure in vacuum line 211 and thus pull thetip of a sliver unit against the screen at 1363 as above described.

From the above description, it will be seen that a sliver unit separatedfrom a sliver 26 by a rupturing operating operation is fed into a pathbetween a path forming member such as 60 or 127 and a peripheral portionof a wheel equipped with friction surfacing so that the sliver isadvanced along the path. There are means for initiating a rolling actionwith respect to the forward end of the silver unit. These means are inthe form of a constriction of the path as at 90 in FIG. 3 or adefleeting means such as the air stream at 130 in FIG. 13. Once therolling action is initiated, it progresses between friction inducingsurfaces along the path and the dimensions and spacing of the pathforming members are such that there is room for the increasing diameterof the ball product until finally the outlet is reached and the ball isreleased into a outlet tube.

We claim:

1. A cotton ball forming machine provided with a rotatable wheel havinga friction surfaced rim, a pathforming member having an entrance end,said member being positioned in increasingly widening spacedrelation tothe friction surfaced rim beginning at said entrance end to define acircumferential ball-forming path between said rim and member forreception of a sliver unit, sliver unit feed means positioned to feed asliver at a predetermined rate onto said rim in a position for entranceinto said ball-forming path, pneumatic means positioned in spacedrelationship from the rim of said wheel in a location adjacent saidentrance end of the circumferential path to act on the leading end of arecentlyfed sliver to deflect said end and initiate a rolling actionwhich is adapted to be completed in said ball-forming .path, and meansfor causing breaking of said sliver at predetermined intervals.

2. A cotton ball forming machine provided with a rotatable wheel havinga friction surfaced rim, a pathforming member having an entrance end,said member being positioned in increasingly widening spaced relation tothe friction surfaced rim beginning at said entrance end to define acircumferential ball-forming path between said rim and member forreception of a sliver unit, sliver unit feed means positioned to feed asliver at a predetermined rate onto said rim in a position for entranceinto said ball-forming path, suction means positioned in spacedrelationship from the rim of said wheel in a location adjacent saidentrance end of the circumferential path to act on the leading end of arecently-fed sliver to deflect said end outwardly away from the wheeland initiate a rolling action which is adapted to be completed in saidball-forming path, and means for causing breaking of said sliver atpredetermined intervals.

3. A cotton ball forming machine provided with a rotatable wheel havinga friction surfaced rim, a path forming member having an entrance end,said member being positioned in increasingly widening spaced relation tothe friction surfaced rim beginning at said entrance end to define acircumferential ball-forming path between said rim and member forreception of a sliver unit, sliver unit feed means positioned to feed asliver at a predetermined rate onto said rim in a position for entranceinto said ball-forming path, suction means positioned in spacedrelationship from the rim of said wheel in a location adjacent saidentrance end of the circumferential path, means for causing breaking ofsaid sliver at predetermined intervals, and means operable in timedrelationship with said sliver-breaking means for causing momentaryoperation of said suction means to act on the leading end of arecently-fed sliver to deflect said end and initiate a rolling actionwhich is adapted to be completed in said ball-forming path.

' 4. A cotton ball forming machine provided with a rotatable wheelhaving a friction surfaced rim, a pathforming member having an entranceend, said member being positioned in increasingly widening spacedrelation to the friction surfaced rim from said entrance to define acircumferential ball-forming path between said rim and member forreception of a sliver unit, sliver unit feed means positioned to feed asliver at a predetermined rate onto said rim in a position for entranceinto said ball-forming path, means including a sliver delivery roll fordelivering sliver to said feed means, suction means positioned in spacedrelationship with the rim of said wheel in a location adjacent saidentrance end of the circumferential path to act on the leading end of arecently-fed sliver to deflect said end outwardly away from the Wheeland initiate a rolling action, means for periodically stopping saidsliver delivery roll to cause breaking of sliver at predeterminedintervals, driving means for said wheel, driving means for said sliverdelivery roll, and means associated with said last men tioned drivingmeans for adjusting the length of the sliver.

5. A cotton ball forming machine having a peripherally friction surfacedrotatable wheel, a ball-forming path member having an entrance end, saidmember being in progressively increasing spaced relation to the frictionsurfaced wheel beginning at said entrance end to provide acircumferential ball-forming path for a sliver unit between the wheeland said member, means spaced from the surface of the Wheel and locatedadjacent said entrance end to act on the leading end of a recently-fedsliver unit on the wheel to initiate a rolling action which is adaptedto be completed as the sliver unit travels through said ball-formingpath, means including a feed roll for feeding sliver at a constant rateto said wheel in advance of said initiating means, sliver delivery rollspositioned to deliver a sliver to said feeding means, means for drivingsaid delivery rolls, and means for periodically stopping the drive forsaid delivery rolls While the feeding means continues to cause breakingof sliver at periodic intervals into units of predetermined length.

6. A cotton ball forming machine having a peripherally friction surfacedrotatable wheel, a ball-forming path member having an entrance end, saidmember being in progressively increasing spaced relation to the frictionsurfaced wheel beginningat said entrance end to provide acircumferential ball-forming path for a sliver unit between the wheeland said member, means spaced from the surface of the wheel and locatedadjacent said entrance end to act on the leading end of a recently-fedsliver unit on the wheel to initiate a rolling action which is adaptedto be completed as the sliver unit travels through said ball-formingpath, means including a feed roll for feeding sliver at a constant rateto said Wheel in advance of said initiating means, sliver delivery rollspositioned to deliver a sliver to said feeding means, means for drivingsaid delivery rolls, and clutch and brake means for periodicallystopping the drive for said delivery rolls while the feeding meanscontinues to cause breaking of sliver at periodic intervals into unitsof predetermined length.

7. A cotton ball forming machine having a peripherally friction surfacedrotatable wheel, a ball-forming path member having an entrance end, saidmember being in progressively increasing spaced relation to the frictionsurfaced wheel from said entrance end to provide a circumferentialball-forming path for a sliver unit between the wheel and said member,means spaced from the surface of the wheel and located adjacent saidentrance end to act on the leading end of a recently-fed sliver unit onthe wheel to initiate a rolling action to be com pleted as the sliverunit travels'through said ballforming path, means including a feed rollfor feeding sliver at a constant rate to said wheel in advance of saidinitiating means, sliver delivery rolls positioned to deliver a sliverto said feeding means, means for driving said delivery rolls, saiddriving means including clutch and brake means for periodically stoppingthe drive for said delivery rolls while the feeding means continues tocause breaking of sliver at periodic intervals into units ofpredetermined length, said driving means also including a rotatablydriven timing shaft, and there being means between said timing shaft andclutch and brake means for controlling the action of the latter.

8. A cotton ball forming machine having a peripherally friction surfacedrotatable wheel, a ball-forming path member having an entrance end, saidmember being in progressively increasing spaced relation to the frictionsurfaced wheel from said entrance end to provide a circumferentialball-forming path for a sliver unit between the wheel and said member,suction means spaced from the surface of the wheel and located adjacentsaid entrance end to act on the leading end of a recently-fed sliverunit on the wheel to initiate a rolling action which is adapted to becompleted as the sliver unit travels through said ball-forming path,means including a feed roll for feeding sliver at a constant rate tosaid wheel in advance of said suction means, sliver delivery rollspositioned to deliver a sliver to said feeding means, means for drivingsaid delivery rolls, said driving means including means for periodicallystopping the drive for said delivery rolls while the feeding meanscontinues to cause breaking of sliver at periodic intervals into unitsof predetermined length, and said driving means also including arotatably driven timing shaft, there being means between said timingshaft and drive stopping means for controlling the action of the latter,and means between said timing shaft and suction means for controllingthe action of the latter in timed relationship with the feed of sliverunits to the Wheel.

9. A cotton ball forming machine having a peripherally friction surfacedrotatable wheel, a ball-forming path member having an entrance end, saidmember being in progressively increasing spaced relation to the frictionsurfaced Wheel from said entrance end to provide a circumferentialball-forming path for a sliver unit between [the wheel and said member,suction means spaced from the surface of the wheel and located adjacentsaid entrance end to act on the leading end of a recently-fed sliverunit on the wheel to initiate a rolling action which is adapted to becompleted as the sliver unit travels through said ball-forming path,means including a feed roll for feeding slivers at a constant rate tosaid wheel in advance of said suction means, sliver delivery rollspositioned to deliver a sliver to said feeding means, means for drivingsaid delivery rolls, said driving means including clutch and brake meansfor periodically stopping the drive for said delivery rolls while thefeeding means continues to cause breaking of slivers at periodicintervals into units of predetermined length, and said driving meansalso including a rotatably driven timing shaft, there being meansbetween said timing shaft and drive stopping means for controlling theaction of the latter, and means between said timing shaft and suctionmeans for controlling the action of the latter in timed relationshipwith the feed of sliver units to the wheel, said suction means includingan air injector unit having an outlet positioned to direct cooling airagainst said clutch and brake means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,968,310 7/34Peterson.

2,462,178 2/49 Ganz 14-l44.5 2,781,947 2/57 Webster et a1 19332 X2,987,781 6/61 Kistler 19-144.5 3,003,911 10/61 Lindstrom et a1.

FOREIGN PATENTS 2,759 1870 Great Britain. 17,256 1903 Great Britain.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL C. MADER, MERVIN STEIN, Examiners.

1. A COTTON BALL FORMING MACHINE PROVIDED WITH A ROTATABLE WHEEL HAVINGA FRICTION SURFACED RIM, A PATHFORMING MEMBER HAVING AN ENTRANCE END,SAID MEMBER BEING POSITIONED IN INCREASINGLY WIDENING SPACED RELATION TOTHE FRICTION SURFACED RIM BEGINNING AT SAID ENTRANCE END TO DEFINE ACIRCUMFERENTIAL BALL-FORMING PATH BETWEEN SAID RIM AND MEMBER FORRECEPTION OF A SLIVER UNIT, SLIVER UNIT FEED MEANS POSITIONED TO FEED ASLIVER AT A PREDETERMINED RATE ONTO SAID RIM IN A POSITION FOR ENTRANCEINTO SAID BALL-FORMING PATH, PNEUMATIC MEANS POSITIONED IN SPACEDRELATIONSHIP FROM THE RIM OF SAID WHEEL IN A LOCATION ADJACENT SAIDENTRANCE END OF THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL PATH TO ACT ON THE LEADING END OF ARECENTLYFED SLIVER TO DEFLECT SAID END AND INITIATE A ROLLING ACTIONWHICH IS ADAPTED TO BE COMPLETED IN SAID BALL-FORMING PATH, AND MEANSFOR CAUSING BREAKING OF SAID SLIVER AT PREDETERMINED INTERVALS.